NAU
NAU: A broad public course catalog with certificates and partner academy support. Ranked #68 of 137 in Online Course Marketplaces by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Free plan · paid from €20; best for learners seeking public and university courses.
At a glance
- Editor score3.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan · paid from €20
- Best forLearners seeking public and university courses
- Free planYes
- Founded2019 · Lisbon, Portugal
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Courses from universities, public bodies, and private organizations
- Mixed self-paced content with assessments and completion requirements
- Certificates and support for open, restricted, and corporate academies
Where it doesn't
- Web-only access limits device flexibility
- Pricing varies by course and partner
- Docs are the listed support channel
Our verdict on NAU
NAU is a Portuguese Massive Open Online Course platform operated as a digital service of the Foundation for Science and Technology and developed by FCCN. It brings together courses from higher-education institutions, public entities, and private organizations across multiple subject areas. Learners study at their own pace through video, text, interactive activities, and supplementary reading, then complete assessments and other course requirements. It is suited to individuals looking for public and university learning, as well as organizations publishing open, restricted, or corporate academies.
The catalog uses a freemium model. Some courses are free, while eligible offerings can include paid certificate and course checkout. The published starting price is €20 as a one-time payment, but pricing is course- and partner-dependent. Learners can receive automatically generated participation certificates with unique identifiers when the applicable requirements are met. Advanced training may use a different price structure, so NAU fits buyers who want to choose courses individually rather than commit to a single subscription plan.
NAU’s strongest platform distinction is its combination of broad institutional sourcing and support for multiple academy types. Its Open edX-based learning management system can support open, restricted, and corporate programs, giving partners a path beyond public course publishing. Cloud deployment and GDPR compliance suit organizations seeking a hosted learning environment, while web-only access keeps the learner experience focused on browser use. Choose NAU for public-facing courses, self-paced study, assessments, and certificates. Consider another marketplace if native mobile access, broader integrations, or a more extensive support model is central to the purchase.
Your product? Our editors can test NAU in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
NAU pricing
NAU fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Subscription access | Not verified |
| Mobile apps | Not verified |
| Offline access | Not verified |
| Course certificates | Yes |
| Business plans | Yes |
| Course formats | Mixed |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Compliance & security | GDPR |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan · paid from €20 (source) |
| Website | nau.edu.pt |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to NAU
- CourseraA broad learning marketplace with courses, certificates, projects, labs, and team analytics.9.3
- edXA broad marketplace for learners and organizations seeking structured credentials.9.2
- DataCampA practical course marketplace for learning data, coding, and AI in the browser.8.9
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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